Ordinary plastic or leather hiking
boots cannot be worn when it is very cold, cold weather
boots in Antarctica are known as Bunny Boots or Mukluks
amongst other names.

Extreme cold weather boots
have soft uppers, thick rubber or synthetic soles, insulation
that is usually removable and thick insoles to prevent
heat loss to the snow and ice. The flexible uppers and
lacing system allow you to get them on while already
wearing one or more pairs of thick socks, and allow
for flexibility of fit. It is important not to squash
socks down too much as it is the trapped air that is
the real insulator.

They are great at keeping
you warm and suitable for the great majority of circumstances,
though you'll need something more specialist for exceptionally
rugged terrain or climbing. If you intend to walk or
stand around on flat-ish ground in incredibly cold conditions,
they will fulfill their function admirably.

Boots for your Antarctic Trip

If you're planning on a trip to
Antarctica you'll need some suitable substantial
footwear. These notes are specific to those
going to Antarctica, but are applicable to any hiking
boots that you may need for cold climates and rugged
terrain.

Antarctica is rugged.
There aren't any footpaths and walking will be at best
on sandy or pebble beaches. The landscape that is not
snow and ice is rocky, pretty rough and rarely flat.
So a good solid substantial sole to any footwear is
needed so that you don't feel all of those rugged Antarctic
rocks too directly.

Summer temperatures
will be at mild Northern hemisphere winter levels at
best. It may well get below freezing point,
so the boots should be warm enough and roomy enough
to take a pair of under socks and also thicker warmer
hiking socks.

Your footwear needs to
be warm, water-resistant, supportive (ankle height)
and with a good sole. Comfortable also helps
of course and fortunately modern walking boots are much,
much better than they used to be not so many years ago.
Gone are the days of breaking in boots long before you
needed to use them in earnest from a stiff incompliant
starting point.

Also gone are the days when it
was necessary as my grandfather advised me to my great
horror as a fastidious teenager, to p**s in them and
leave them over-night (that's what they used to do in
the army apparently - India, Northwest frontier circa
1922).

It is sensible to get used to your
boots and wear them around town or at least the house
for a while before you set off for the airport to go
south. It's not a good idea to put them on for the very
first time in your cabin to go ashore and see your first
penguin colony close-up. They arrive pretty much
ready-to-go, but as with all footwear it depends on
how standard your feet are!

Socks- Don't "spoil the ship
for a ha'porth o' tar". Get some nice comfy warm socks
too. A good quality light-weight pair for next to your
skin and then some "hiking" socks to go over these.
These are usually made so as not to have seams in uncomfortable
positions and may be specially cushioned on the areas
where the weight is taken.

These waterproof boots are rated by the manufacturers
for temperatures down to - 40 F / - 40 CWaterproof cold weather
bootsMen'sWomen's

As you will be on a ship and making
boat landings ashore, waterproof boots
would be very useful! While you won't deliberately be
wading through water, a missed footing into just a couple
of inches of water could result in an uncomfortably
soggy foot for quite a while afterwards.

For use in and around boats in
the Antarctic summer, the modern take on rubber wellington
style boots are ideal with a close fitting and insulated
neoprene upper.

They are much better for walking
in than traditional wellington boots and are increasingly
used in Antarctica by scientists, guides and tourists
alike . They are waterproof up to the top so you don't
have to worry when getting in or out of the zodiac in
shallow water and you can be comfortable walking around
in them all day long.